Means preventing the spreading of railway-rails.



R. G. RAU.

MEANS PREVENTING THE SPREADING 0F RAILWAY RAILS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1914.

1,1 19,3l. Patented Dec. 1,1914.

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ROBERTO. RAU, or WARBENSBURG, LLiNoIs.

MEANS PREVENTING THE SPREADING OFRAILWAY-RAILS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT C. RAU, a citizen of the United States, residing at Warrensburg, in the county of Macon and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means Pre-. venting the Spreading of Railway-Bails, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved device operating to prevent the spreading of railway rails.

The object of the invention is to simplify. the construction, and tominimize the manufacturing cost of anti-spreading devices when compared with such devices heretofore devised.

Essentially, the invention consists in providing a connecting bar or red arranged preferably beneath the rails acted upon, said bar having mounted thereupon a pair of rail engaging members, disposed one against each of the remote faces of the respective rails, said members each having associated therewith a suitable wedge, which, by reason of its engagement with the bar or red, serves as a means whereby the said rail engaging members are locked or held immovable relatively thereto and to the rails.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in their preferred embodiment 1n the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more particularly ointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form a part of this application.

In describing my invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the ant1 spreading device, the rails acted upon being shown in section; Fig. 2 is a face view oi one of the rail engaging members; and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the Referring now to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates the railway rails in connection with which the antispreading devic comprising the present invention is used. A connecting bar or rod 2 is arranged beneath the base of the respective rails 1, said bar being of a length sufficient to extend beyond the respective remote edges of the said rails.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

Application filed May 2, 1914. Serial No. 885,976.

the rails 1 against which they are arranged,

said members not only serving as a means whereby the rails are braced against lateral play or spreading, but also as a means whereby the tread portion of the rail is braced to prevent sagging or drooping of the rails often manifest after incessant pounding thereupon by the passage of rolling stock thereover. Members 3 are each provided with an opening 4 extending therethrough, said opening receiving the connecting bar. 2 and being shaped preferably to conform to the configuration of the said bar whereby to support the latter immovable vertically relatively thereto. Connecting bar 2, herein shown, is made somewhat similarto an ordinary railway rail, thus permitting, if desired, the use of the discarded rails otherwise allowed to waste. Opening 4 is provided with a beveled wall against which a wedge block 6 is fitted, the said wedge block fitting the opening and engaging the top edge of the connecting bar in the manner shown in Fig. 1 to prevent lateral movement of the rails and locking the rail engaging members 3 against longitudinal movement vrelatively to the said bar. If desired, said members 3 may be fastened to the connecting bar 2 as shown at 7, such connection, however being thought to be unnecessary in view of the secure hold afforded by the use of the wedge block 6.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it is apparent that the rails 1 are held against spreadingby reason of their engagement with the rail engaging members 3; that the said members are locked against longitudinal movement upon the connecting bar 2 by reason of their engagement with the bevel face of the wedge block if desired, one of the rail engaging members 3 may be made fast or rigid with the connecting bar 2, and the other member adjustable thereupon to provide for its arrange ment thereover subsequent to the positioning of the bar 2 beneath the rails.

It will be understood that the above description and accompanying drawings comprehend only the general and preferred em- 6; and that bodiment of my invention, and thatvarious.

minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be made Within the scope ofthe appended claims and Without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to se cure by Letters Patent, is

1. Means preventing the spreading of rails including a connecting bar adapted to be arranged beneath the rails acted upon, a rail engaging member mounted for longitudinal adjustment upon each terminal of the bar, each of the rail engaging members having an opening formed therein of approximately the size and shape of the connecting bar to prevent lateral displacement of the rail engaging members independently of said bar, the top Wall of each opening being cut at an inclination, and a Wedge block fitting each opening, the Wedge block being engageable With the said bar and the inclined surface of the respective members to hold the said members immovable vertically relatively to the rails and to the connecting bar, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. Means preventing the spreading of rails including a connecting bar of irregular formation in cross section, said bar being arranged beneath the rails to extend beyond the remote longitudinal faces thereof, a rail size and shape of the connecting bar to prevent lateral displacement of the raileiigaging members independently of said bar, the top Wall of each opening being cut at an inclination and extending beyond the top surface of the connecting bar fastened thereto, and a wedgeblock fitting each opening, the Wedge blocks being engageable With the said bar and the inclined surface of the K respectivemembers to hold the said members immovable vertically relatively to the rails and to the connecting bar, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

ROBERT C. RAU.

Witnesses i W. D. VOLLE, EDD GULF.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. I o 

